- Adjacent to Bwindi National Park, Kanungu District, Uganda
Sparking Self-Sufficiency in Africa Through Sustainable Income
The Batwa and Reformed Poachers are people who used to live in the forest in what is now the famous Bwindi National Park. They were displaced by the Park’s formation to protect the endangered Mountain Gorillas. This displacement to land adjacent to the Park was not accompanied by a resettlement or compensation plan beyond an expectation of some tourism-related income. These settlements evolved into communities characterized by malnutrition, poverty, hunger and low levels of education. Located in a remote rural area, the major source of livelihood near the Park is conventional agriculture. After initially working to introduce and improve farming practices for its beneficiaries, the Reformed Poachers and Batwa Farmers’ Cooperative Society (REPABFCOS) more recently introduced the cooperative methodology in order to enable farmers to have access to agricultural loans, distribution and marketing of their products, and other innovative projects such as revolving seed loans and farmer-to-farmer centered learning for poverty and hunger free cooperative members. The organisation is ending poaching and improving nature conservation in and around the Conservation area.
Pilot Light partnered with REPABFCOS to strengthen the cooperative structure and implement Village Savings and Loans Groups (VSLA). There are currently 1000 group members in 33 VSLA groups.
Options and opportunity. In the cooperative demonstration farm there is organic vegetable and mushroom growing, fish farming, bee keeping and rearing of small animals like chicken and goats.
Support and Outcome. Training and Supporting the cooperative members to fight extreme hunger and poverty through sustainable Agri business while conserving the environment and through Village Savings and Loans Association groups to support their businesses.
Building a cooperative community free from poverty and hunger.
Community Stature/ Overall Objectives. To encourage improved methods of agriculture and to supply expert advice. To market and process the agricultural products of members cooperatively. To increase access to business building loans.
